Identification device

ABSTRACT

A tray ( 10 ) for supplying coded golf balls ( 50 ) to the tee ( 41 ) of a golf driving range comprises a first zone ( 11 ) for receiving golf balls, one of which is selected to be played by moving it by means of a club over a barrier ( 14 ) to a second ( 12 ) where it passes under gravity through an outlet ( 30 ) past a code reader ( 41 ) to the tee ( 41 ). An indicator light ( 46 ) is provided to confirm that the code has been read. The barrier ( 14 ) may have a grooved side ( 15 ) to assist transfer of the golf ball from the first zone ( 11 ) to the second zone ( 12 ).

The present invention relates to an identification device and inparticular to a device for identifying rolling articles which are coded.The articles may be golf balls of the type disclosed in prior patentapplication PCT/GB00/02461 and the device may be installed in a golfdriving range of the type disclosed in prior patent applicationPCT/GB99/00883. The golf balls preferably house coded r.f.identification tags or transponders and the identification devicepreferably comprises an antenna.

A problem with existing ball identification devices is that the relativeorientation of the tag in the ball and the antenna in the identificationdevice may be such that the tag and its code are not detected. Possiblesolutions involve causing the antenna to move, but this requires theadditional complexity of moving parts, or alternatively causing the golfball to move through a convoluted path, but this is again a complexarrangement, the balls are delayed in reaching their final destinationand may even become jammed.

Another problem with existing ball identification devices is that theprovision of communications and power connections thereto necessitatedigging up the ground or providing under floor conduits.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,513,841 discloses a golf driving range having a devicefor automatically lifting coded golf balls from a ball storage tankarranged underneath the tees to a ball holder from which the balls movedown a sloping ball guide passage past ball code reading means to thedesired tee.

The present invention seeks to overcome or reduce one or more of theabove problems.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda device for identifying coded rolling articles comprising a first zonefor holding a plurality of articles separated by a barrier from a secondzone, the barrier being such that the articles can be rolled over thebarrier individually, the second zone being configured such that anarticle therein is constrained to move to an outlet of the device pastmeans for reading the code of the article, characterised in that thedevice is configured as a tray, the barrier dividing the tray into saidfirst and second zones, which are both lower than the barrier, and inthat a user can move a selected one of the articles from said first zoneover the barrier to said second zone.

The articles in the second zone are preferably constrained to move tothe outlet under the influence of gravity. The articles are preferablygolf balls and the coding is preferably provided by r.f. tags. Thebarrier is preferably such that the golf balls can be moved over it by agolf club.

The first zone is preferably configured so that as articles are removedtherefrom, the remaining articles are constrained e.g. by gravity, tomove towards the barrier.

Indicating means, such as a light, may be provided adjacent to theoutlet for indicating that the reading device has read the code of anarticle. The reading device is preferably an antenna arranged directlyadjacent to the outlet, e.g. immediately below it.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method of placing golf balls on a tee of a golf driving range,comprising the steps of:

-   -   (i) placing a plurality of coded golf balls in a first zone of a        ball tray;    -   (ii) moving a selected one of said golf balls by means of a golf        club from said first zone over a barrier to a second zone of the        ball tray;    -   (iii) constraining the selected golf ball to move towards and        through an outlet of the tray;    -   (iv) reading the code of the selected golf ball as it moves        through the outlet; and    -   (v) passing the selected golf ball from said outlet to the tee.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described,by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, ofwhich:

FIG. 1 is perspective view of a device in accordance with the presentinvention in the form of a golf ball tray;

FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 are respective sectional views on the lines A—A, B—Band C—C of the tray of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a schematic top plan view of an inner part of the tray of FIG.1; and

FIGS. 6 and 7 are end and side views of an outlet region of the tray ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 6 a is an alternative embodiment of the tray of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, a generally semi-elliptical tray 10 ofmoulded plastics material comprises a relative large zone 11 of agenerally crescent shape for holding up to sixty golf balls. As shown inFIGS. 3 and 4, the base 21 of zone 11 slopes towards the centre so thatballs therein roll radially inwardly under the effect of gravity. Zone11 includes a land 51 to receive an identification mark or logo. Zone 11surrounds a central generally semi-circular zone 12 and the zones areseparated by a barrier 14 which is shaped so as to resemble the walls ofhalf a volcano. It will be noted that barrier 14 is sloped on both itsouter and inner sides 15, 16 so that a player may readily move one ofthe golf balls from zone 11 to zone 12. The outer side 15 has grooves 18to assist this process.

Zone 12 slopes towards one end 31 of a central outlet chute 30, whichitself slopes, so that golf balls introduced into zone 12 automaticallyroll under the effect of gravity and through the chute and out of itsother end 32 over a lip 35 on to a mat 40 which constitutes a golfdriving tee of a golf driving range.

A cross-section through the chute is shown in FIG. 6, from which it canbe seen that a detector antenna coil 41 is located directly underneaththe bottom 33 of the chute 30. The coil is connected via leads (notshown) to a decoder unit 42 housed inside the interior of the traymoulding. The coil 41 and unit 42 are connected via further leads (notshown) to power and communications connectors 44. The communicationsconnectors may be connected to a control device as disclosed inPCT/GB99/00883.

An indicator light 46 is located on the tray adjacent the outlet chute30. The decoder unit causes the light to be illuminated for a limitedperiod to indicate to a player that the code on a ball which has justpassed through chute 30 has satisfactorily had its code read.

Typical dimensions of the tray are 110 cm along section AA and 30 cmalong section CC. The thickness of the moulding (“t”, see FIG. 6) isapproximately 5 mm. Lip 35 extends for a distance “a” of approximately25 mm and has a height “b” of approximately 50 mm. To remove anyrainwater, drainage holes 48 are provided in the base 21 of zone 11.

In use, balls are placed into the large holding part 12 of the tray 10and are pulled up one by one over the ramp lid of barrier 14 by use of agolf club. Once over the ramp lip, the ball 50 rolls down the ramp andthrough the exit channel formed by chute 30. The ball then leaves tray10 and rolls onto the hitting area 40. As each ball passes through theexit channel 30 it passes over the powered antenna 41 in theregistration zone. The antenna 41 senses the transponder or tag in theball and feeds back information to the decoder unit 42. As each ball isdetected, light 46 illuminates. If a ball is not detected it must beplaced back for reading in the registration zone.

The above-described arrangement has numerous advantages. The antenna 41is close to the moving ball and is small and compact. The antenna doesnot move, in fact there are no moving parts. Ball 50 travels solelyunder the forces of gravity. The antenna field is focused and thus theregistration zone is more sensitive. The electronic circuitry isrelatively simple and installation is also since all the components areabove ground. The arrangement is flexible since it can be used on allsurfaces indoors and out.

Since the ball 50 is rolling as it moves over antenna 41, there is onlya low probability that its code will not be detected by the antenna atsome stage of this movement. The moulding of tray 10 in one piece is aconvenient process and the installation of the decoder unit 42 and theconnectors 44 within the internal cavity of moulding produces a tidyarrangement and avoids the need for underground or under floorconnections.

Numerous modifications may be made to the above-described tray. Forexample, to prevent balls 50 moving too quickly along chute 30 on ormore obstacles 31 a such as pips may be provided in zone 12 adjacent theentrance 31 of the chute. The pips serve to slow the ball down. Thelight 46 may be replaced or supplemented by visual indication at anotherlocation, e.g., on a display unit at eye level. There may also beprovided means for detecting the passage of a ball, whether or not theball is coded. This enables a positive visual warning to be given that acode has not been detected. In this case, an audible warning mayalternatively or additionally be given to indicate that the code of aball has not been read.

The chute 30 may be generally U-shaped so that it is open at the top ormay be constituted by an enclosed tube 30 a (see FIG. 6 a). The tray 10may have any other convenient shape and may be made from any suitablematerial.

Other ball-coding techniques may be used, such as optical coding. Thegolf balls can have bar codes which are read by an optical bar codereader in chute 30.

The tray can be used to detect the issue of other types of balls andspherical objects. Indeed the passage of any object which rolls, such asa cylindrical article, can be detected.

1. A system for identifying coded rolling articles comprising a tee, atray, a barrier, and means for reading the code of the articles, thetray having a first zone for holding a plurality of articles, and asecond zone having an outlet, whereby the barrier separates the firstzone of the tray from the second zone of the tray which are both lowerthan the barrier, the barrier being arranged such that the user can rolla selected individual article from the first zone up and over thebarrier into said second zone of the tray which is configured such thatan article is constrained to move to and through the outlet of the traypast the means for reading the code of the article so that the code ofthe article is read before the article exits the device, wherein saidarticles are golf balls and wherein golf balls pass from said outlet tothe tee.
 2. A system according to claim 1, wherein an article in thesecond zone is constrained to move under the influence of gravitythrough the outlet of the tray past the means for reading the code ofthe golf balls.
 3. A system according to claim 1, wherein articles inthe first zone are constrained to move towards the barrier.
 4. A systemaccording to claim 1, wherein indicating means are provided forindicating that the reading means has read the code of an article.
 5. Asystem according to claim 4, wherein the indicating means are providedadjacent to said outlet.
 6. A system according to claim 1, wherein eacharticle is coded by means of an r.f. tag, and the reading means includesan antenna located adjacent to said outlet.
 7. A system according toclaim 6, wherein the antenna is connected to a decoder unit housedinside the tray.
 8. A system according to claim 1, wherein said barrierhas a side adjacent said first zone, and wherein said side has grooves.9. A system according to claim 1, wherein one or more obstacles areprovided adjacent the entrance of said outlet.
 10. A method of placinggolf balls on a tee of a golf driving range, comprising the steps of:(i) placing a plurality of coded golf balls in a first zone of a balltray; (ii) moving a selected one of said golf balls by means of a golfclub from said first zone over a barrier to a second zone of the balltray; (iii) constraining the selected golf ball to move towards andthrough an outlet of the tray; (iv) reading the code of the selectedgolf ball as it moves through the outlet; and (v) passing the selectedgolf ball from said outlet to the tee.
 11. A system according to claim 1further comprising means for slowing the article as it moves through theoutlet of the device.
 12. A system according to claim 11, wherein theoutlet comprises an enclosed tube.
 13. A system according to claim 11wherein the means for slowing the article comprises at least oneobstacle adjacent the entrance of the outlet.
 14. A system according toclaim 1, wherein the barrier has a side adjacent the first zone and aside adjacent the second zone, both sides being sloped and wherein auser can move a selected one of the articles from said first zone overthe barrier to said second zone by use of a golf club.
 15. A systemaccording to claim 14 wherein the tray is generally semi-elliptical inshape and comprises molded plastics material.
 16. A system according toclaim 14 wherein the barrier is shaped so as to resemble the walls ofhalf a volcano.
 17. A system according to claim 1 wherein the means forreading the code of the articles is located adjacent to the outlet. 18.A system according to claim 1 wherein the outlet comprises an exitchannel and the means for reading the code of the articles is locatedadjacent to the exit channel.
 19. A system according to claim 18 whereinthe means for reading the code of the articles comprises a detectorantenna located at the bottom of the exit channel.
 20. A systemaccording to claim 1 further comprising coded golf balls.